Spring sash counterbalance



July 1, 1969 E. E. FOSTER 3,

. spams SASH COUNTERBALANCE Filed Sept. 14, 1967 Sheet of s FIG.5

INVENTOR I EDWIN E. FOSTER ATTORNEY ofS y 1969 E. E. FOSTER SPRING SASHCOUNTERBALANCE Filed Sept. 14, 1967 INVENTOR EDWIN E. FOSTER ATTQRNEY 7Filed Sept. 14, 1967 July 1, 1969 E. E. FOSTER SPRING SASHCOUNTERBALANCE FIG. 7

FIG/4 I l l l O INVENTOR EDWIN E. FOSTER VBY Qu d W- ATTORNEY Sheet 1'of FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,452,480 SPRING SASH COUNTERBALANCE Edwin E.Foster, 1801 Camp Craft Road, Austin, Tex. 78746 Filed Sept. 14, 1967,Ser. No. 667,809 Int. Cl. Ed 13/00 U.S. Cl. 49-445 11 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A counterbalance having a window sash being ofselfcoiling spring type with one end of the spring ribbon attached tothe lower end portion of the sash and with the coil being mounted withinan opening in the window frame; there being a support member for saidcoil for maintaining same within the frame opening.

Background of the invention Heretofore with sash counterbalances of theself-coiling spring type, it has been the accepted practice of mountingthe coil within the sash for movement therewith and having the free endof the spring ribbon attached to the frame. This type of constructionmay be seen in United States Letters Patent No. 2,609,193 issued Sept.2, 1952. Such type of installation has proven in extensive experience tohave various serious undesirable features. Among the same is the problemof installation for the spring coil located within an opening in theside of the sash, replacement and installation has understandablyrequired a dismantling of the window necessitating removal of portionsof the frame so as to allow withdrawal of the sash to permit access tothe recess carrying the spring coil. Another drawback has been the factthat with such recess being opened toward the frame, various foreignmatter, such as for instance, paint flakes and the like, will tend to becollected therein and to be carried by the coils of the spring causingincrease in the coil size with resultant interference between coil andthe sides of the recess.

In an effort to overcome these problems, the industry started to utilizea spring coil housing attached to the top corner of the frame and withthe free end of the spring being attached to the top of the sash. Suchexpedient has not proven satisfactory since the spring ribbon is at alltimes visible, but more so the extended portion of the spring would tendto rub on the frame creating undesired friction and also was subject tokinking.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention toprovide a spring sash counterbalance which is adapted for disposi-- tionwithin the window frame and which would at all times remain invisible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a uniquemounting for a sash counterbalance comprising an opening within the sideof the window frame and with mounting means for maintaining the coil inproper operative disposition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sashcounterbalance mounting which permits of ease of access so as to allowfor ready inspection and repair without necessitating a dismantling ordissassembly of the window frame or sash.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mountingfor a sash counterbalance which is adapted to allow for the provision ofa plurality of counterbalance members commensurate with the weightrequirements of the particular sash.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amounting for a sash counterbalance which 3,452,480 Patented July 1, 1969may be utilized with existing window and sash con-struction andinstalled therein without extensive costly operations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sashcounterbalance mounting which assures of continuous requisite operationof the counterbalance at all times and one wherein the extended portionof the coun- FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front view of a window having asash provided with a counterbalance constructed in accordance with andembodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section viewtaken in the area indicated by the numeral 2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the mounting member.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the sash bracket.

FIGURE '5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a window having a sashprovided with two counterbalances constructed in accordance with andembodying the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken in the areaindicated by the numeral 6 in FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the adapter.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now by referencecharacters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of thepresent invention, A generally designates a window which may be made ofany suitable material such as wood, aluminum, or the like, and whichcomprises a window frame having jambs 1, a header 2, and a sill 3.Provided for slideable reciprocal vertical movement within frame 1 is asash 4 which embodies side components 5 and upper and lower transversemembers 6, 7, which elements coact in conventional manner for supportinga pane of glass or if desired a multiplicity of smaller panes asindicated at 8. Each side component 5 is of channel form in crosssection opening laterally toward the adjacent jamb 1 and having a webportion 9 and rear and front side flanges as at 10 (the front flange notbeing shown). Each jamb 1 substantially intermediate its length and in azone proximate the upper end of sash 4 when the same is in closedcondition (see FIGURE 1) is provided with a recess 11 having upper andbottom surfaces 12 and 13, being open toward its inner side, as at 14,for direct communication with the channel or the proximate side of sash4 and with its opposed or outer side being closed, as by a wall Providedfor mounted disposition upon the inwardly directed surface of each jambs1 is a counterbalance support member 16 which may be fabricated of anysuitable material, such as plastic or metal, and which embodies a lowerfaceplate portion 17 for disposition against the related jamb 1immediately beneath recess 11 and having a chamfered opening 18 forreceiving a screw 19 for securement of support member 16 upon theproximate jamb 1. Said support member 16 in its upper portion isprovided with an inwardly extending body 20 for projecting into recess11 having a lower horizontal base 21 for disposition upon bottom surface13 of recess 11 with an upper, horizontally presented wall 22 in planarparallel relationship to base 21 and being preferably of greater extentso that its outer end will be in immediate proximity to vertical wall 15of recess 11; there being side gussets 23 connecting wall 22 and base 21for rigidifying the structure. It is to be further observed thatmounting member 16 is so formed as to present its forward, orfaceplate-carrying portion spaced inwardly of jambs 1, as by means ofproviding a spacer portion 24 at its lower end so that the inner portionof support member 16 will project into the channel of the adjacent sideof sash 4. Additionally, the width of mounting member 16 is less thanthe distance between the flanges of the sash channel whereby said member16 may be moved relatively therebetween without the development ofinterference. At its inner end, within the said channel, wall 22 isprovided with an upwardly inclined detent 25 for inhibiting undesiredinward displacement of the coil 26 for a self-coiling spring 27 which ispresented for counterbalancing sash 4. Coil 26 will be disposed upon theupper surface of wall 32 and by reason of its diameter with respect tothe depth of recess 11 will extend into the sash channel but spacedlyoutwardly of web 9 even when fully coiled. Counterbalance 27 may be ofany suitable self-coiling type but may well be of the type set forth inUnited States Letters Patent No. 2,609,191.

The free end of ribbon 28 of counterbalance 27 is provided with anopening 29 for extension therethrough of a finger 30 formed on the uppervertical leg 31 of an L-shaped sash bracket 32 having a lower horizontalleg 33 presented in flatwise abutment against the underface of the lowerend of lower transverse member 7 of sash 4 and being secured thereto, asby a screw 34. Vertical leg 31 is relatively short and is presentedagainst the lower side face of web 9 for registration of finger 30 withan aperture 35 formed therein so that said spring ribbon 28 is securelymaintained between sash web 9 and leg 31 of bracket 32 by means offinger 30.

As shown in FIGURE 1, spring 27 will be in fully extended condition whensash 4 is in downward, closed position; and as illustrated in FIGURE 2,spring 27 will be in maximum coiled state when sash 4 is in full upwardor open condition. It will accordingly be seen that ribbon 28, as wellas coil 26, will at all times be masked from view by reason of the novelarrangement of sash, jamb and mounting member 16. In addition thereto,ribbon 28 will be maintained spacedly from jamb 1 so that no undesirableimpeding or interfering contact is made therewith, with any attendantscraping action which might tend to produce paint flakes or dislodgeforeign matter which could be ultimately received within the coils ofspring 27.

Additionally, the present invention permits of facile inspection andrepair of counterbalance 27 without necessitating a dismantling of theentire window construction. All one needs to do, with sash 4 in upwardposition (FIGURE 2) is to remove screw 19 and thus withdraw mountingmember 16 from operative position since there is no obstacle to preventits withdrawal. The operator will then remove screw 34 so as to releasesash bracket 32 and by slight outward movement, dislodge finger 30 fromaperture 35 and opening 29 in ribbon 28. Thereupon spring 27 is free forremoval and will drop downwardly and outwardly of its recess 11.

Installation is accomplished by thep recise reversal of the foregoingprocedure. When mounting member 16 is first placed in recess 11, it willcontact coil 26 and the spring must be slightly extended before it hasreached its full lift which would be about inch that mounting member 16would have to be lifted to permit base 21 to be positioned above bottomsurface 13.

In the event sash 4 were to be of substantial weight and thus require acounterbalancing force greater than that provided by spring 27, it iswithin the contemplation of the present invention that a plurality ofsuch springs 27 may be utilized. Referring now to FIGURE 6 in whichfigure jamb 41 is provided with a recess 42 of relatively greatervertical extent than recess 1 hereinabove described. Secured to theinner face of jamb 41 is a mounting member 16 which is in the samerelationship to recess 42 as to recess 11 hereinabove described.Disposed upon upper wall 22 of mounting member 16 is a counterbalancespring 27. Also supported upon upper wall 22 of mounting member 16 arethe lower edges of the upstanding, parallel side walls 43, 43 of anadapter 44 being of generally U-form and having a top wall 45 extendingbetween the upper edges of side walls 43, 43'. Side walls 43, 43 are ofsuch extent as to present top wall 45 above the coil 26 of the spring 27disposed on upper wall 22 of mounting member 16 when the said coil is infully coiled state so as to prevent any undesired contact therewith. Thesaid top wall 45 serves as a support for a second coil 26' of acounterbalance spring 27 which may be in all respects of similarcharacter and capacities as spring 27. The free end of the ribbon 28' ofcounterbalance 27 is provided with an opening 29 for registration withthe opening 29 of the ribbon 28 of counterbalance 27 so that the samemay receive finger 30 of the sash bracket 32 for anchoring thereby tothe lower end of the sash 4.

Thus, by the foregoing novel arrangement any suitable counterbalancingforce may be easily provided to compensate for any of various windowsash weights without in any way departing from the novel features ofthis invention.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation,construction, and arrangement and combination of the several parts ofthe spring sash counterbalance may be made and substituted for theseherein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said side jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvementcomprising a sash presented for vertical, reciprocal slideable movementwith relation to said jambs between lowered or closing position andupper or open position, said sash incorporating vertical sidecomponents, each of said side components having throughout its extent anoutwyardly ;opening channel in confronting relationship to the adjacentjamb, said jamb recesses being located proximate the upper end portionsof said sash side components when said sash is in lowered or closedposition, a counter-balance for said sash comprising a self-coilingspring of ribbon character, the coil of said spring being disposedwithin each jamb recess, the diameters of said coils being greater thanthe depth of said recesses so that a portion of said coil normallyprojects into the channel of the adjacent sash side component, each ofsaid springs having an outer free end for extension downwardly from itscoil within the adjacent outwardly opening channel of the proximate sashside component wherefore said free end will be spaced from the innerface of the adjacent jamb for avoiding contact with foreign particlesnormally associated with such jamb, and means for securing the outerfree end of said spring to the adjacent side component of the sashproximate its lower end.

2. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 1 and further characterized by a support member securedto each jamb for extension into said recess, said support member havinga lower-face plate portion engaged to the related jamb downwardly of theassociated recess, and an upper portion projecting into, and receivedby, said recess, said member upper portion having a lower horizontalbase for disposition upon the bottom surface of said recess and asubstantially horizontal upper wall in planar parallel relationship tosaid base, said counter-balance coil being received upon said upperwall.

3. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side pambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 2 and further characterized by said support memberbeing of such configuration as to project into the channel of theconfronting side sash component.

4. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 1 and further characterized by said jamb recesses beinglocated in substantial adjacency to the upper end portion of the sashwhen the latter is in downward or window-closed condition, and meansengaging said counterbalance to the lower end portion of said sash.

5. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 2 and further characterized by an adapter fordisposition upon said support member, said adapter having a substantial,horizontal upper surface located spacedly above the upper, horizontalwall of said support member, a second counterbalance received upon theupper, horizontal surface of said adapter, said second counterbalancebeing engaged to the lower end portion of the related side component ofthe sash.

6. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 2 and further characterized by said member upper wallhaving an upwardly inclined detent extending into said channel of theconfronting side sash component for maintaining said spring within saidrecess.

7. For use with a window having a frame incoporating Side jambs, each ofsaid jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement as definedin claim 1 and further characterized by an L-shaped sash bracket mountedon the lower end of each sash, said sash bracket having a lowerhorizontal leg presented in flatwise abutment against the under face ofthe lower end of said sash and a vertical leg presented in spacedlyparallel relationship to the lower side face of the channel web of theadjacent sash side component, a finger mounted on said vertical leg, theouter end of said spring having an aperture, said finger being receivedwithin said aperture for securing said spring between said channel weband said vertical leg of said sash bracket.

8. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 5 and further characterized by said secondcounter-balance comprising a self-coiling spring of ribbon character,the axis of said second spring being in vertically aligned, parallelrelationship with the axis of said first counter-balance spring, theouter ends of both said first and second counter-balance springs beingsecured to each other and to the lower end portion of the related sidecomponent of said sash.

9. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 5 and further characterized by said adapter having anupwardly inclined detent extending into said sash component channel formaintaining said second counter-balance spring within said recess.

10. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 3 and further characterized by said support memberhaving a spacer located at its lower end for presenting the innerportion of said support member within the channel of said adjacent sashside component.

11. For use with a window having a frame incorporating side jambs, eachof said jambs having an inwardly opening recess, the improvement asdefined in claim 9 and further characterized by an L-shaped sash bracketmounted on the lower end of each sash, said sash bracket having a lowerhorizontal leg presented in flatwise abutment against the under surfaceof the lower end of said sash and a vertical leg presented in spacedparallel relationship to the web of the related side channel componentof said sash, a finger mounted on said vertical leg, the outer end ofsaid first and second counter-balance springs having an aperture, eachof said apertures of said first and second counter-balance springs beingreceived over said finger for maintaining said outer ends between theweb of said side component channel and the vertical leg of said sashbracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,091 2/1953 Kass 49-445 X2,635,282 4/1953 Trammell et al. 16-197 2,684,499 7/1954 Lewis 161972,732,594 1/1956 Adams et al 16-197 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, PrimaryExaminer. I. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.*R. l6197

